Fence-tool.



No. 659,666. Patented Oct. I6, I900.

` M. W. GUNN.

FENCE TUL.

(Application filed Dec. 18, 1899.).

Glo Model.)

llNiTnn Srnmns 4PnTnNT e OFFICE.

MOSES W. GUNN, OF LA SALLE, ILLINOIS.

FENCE-TOOL.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 659,666, dated October16, 1900.

Application filed December 18, 1899. Serial No. 740,771. (No model..`

To all whom t may concern:

Be it known that I, Mosns W. GUNN, a citizen of the United States,residing at La Salle, in the county of La Salle, State of Illinois,haveinvented certain new and useful Improvements in Fence-Tools; and I dohereby declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact descriptionof the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to whichit appertains to make and use the same.

This invention relates to fencebuilding tools, and more particularly todevices for stretching of fence-wires; and it has for its object toprovide a construct-ion which is adaptable for the initial stretching ofwires in the building o f fences, for the taking up of slack in oldfencing, and for the splicing of breaks.

In the drawings forming a part of this specification, and in which likenumerals of reference indicate similar parts in the several views,Figure l is a perspective view showing the application and operation ofthe tool in the stretching of a wire and the application of a tie, andFig. 2 is a perspective view of the plate which forms the crank of thedevice.

Referring' now to the drawings, the main element of the structure is thewinding device consistingr of a crank 5, having a handle 6 at one endextending at right angles thereto. At the opposite end of the crank andalined longitudinally thereof are two communicating circularperforations 7 and 8, intermediate of which are two inwardly-directedpoints 8 and 9', separated by an interspace forming the communicating;passage. In the perforations '7 and S are disposed the jaws 9 and 10 ofthe holding element, consisting of a round bar bent upon itself to formthese two diverging jaws and includinga circular eye 11 at the bight. Inconnection with this portion of the construction is employed asupplemental crank consisting of a round bar 13, adapted to lie in theeye 1l and having a head 14 to permit withdrawal of the rod in onedirection. This head is spear-shaped, as shown, and is adapted whenengaged from the eye to be driven through the loop of a staple to wedgeit` from its place.

A further element of the structure consists of a wrapping-tool 15, whichconsists of a piece of round iron bent upon itself to form twosubstantiallyparallel legs 16 and 17, connected by a semicircular bight18, below which the legs are bowed outwardly at 19 and 2O in arc shape,for a purpose that will be presently described.

In practice in the stretching of a wire the rod 13 is passed through theeye 11 and the jaws 9 and 10 are brought to receive between them thewire to be stretched or tightened. The crank is then Operated throughthe medium of the handle 6 and supplemental crank or bar 13 to wind theWire upon the jaws, after which' the handle or the bar is passed beneathand engaged with the wire to prevent unwinding. A short section of wire20' is then passed between the jaws, after which the wrapping-tool ispassed over said section and by moving the tool around and around themain wire the end of the short section is wrapped firmly in place. TheWrapping-tool is then moved to the opposite end of the section and theoperation is repeated. When the short section-tie is of barbed wire, thewrapping-tool may be slipped longitudinally to cause the wire to lie inthe broadened portion of the Winder between the bows, and thus permitthe barbs to pass therethrough. When it is desired to make a splice, theends of the wire to be spliced together are overlapped and placedbetween the jaws, after which the ends are wound about the oppositewires in the same manner above described. If preferred, after theoverlapping of the ends and the insertion of them between the jaws, theymay lbe wound upon the jaws to tighten the wire,

and a short section may be wrapped in place, as above mentioned.

I-Iaving thus described my invention, what I claim, and desire to secureby Letters Patent, is-

1. A stretching and splicing tool consisting of a crank havingcommunicating perforations and inwardly-turned portions intermediate theperforations and a rod bent upon itself to form au eye at the bightand'to form two jaws, the jaws of the rod being passed through the saidperforations and diverged to prevent withdrawal.

2. A wire tightening and splicing tool comprising a crank havingcommunicating perforations therein, inwardly-directed portions IOO lyingbetween the perforations and jaws oonsisting of a spring-bar bent uponitself and having an eye at the bght, said jaws being passed through theperforations and Merged to prevent withdrawal.

3. A splicing and stretching tool consisting of a crank havingcommunicating perforations, a spring-rod bent lupon itself to form jawsand an eye at the bight, said jaws being 1o passed through theperforations and diverged to prevent the withdrawal, and a supplementalcrank having a pointed head and lying loosely in the said eye.

In testimony whereof I aix my signature in the presence of twowitnesses.

MOSES W. GUNN.

Witnesses:

J. E. COLEMAN, M. BYRNE.

